HAARTEZ– Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday rejected a Palestinian demand that direct negotiations be based on a statement by the Quartet confirming its position that the future Palestinian state will be based on the 1967 borders.

Meeting in Jerusalem with U.S. envoy George Mitchell, Netanyahu repeated his demand for the renewal of direct talks without preconditions. Mitchell briefed Netanyahu on his meeting on Tuesday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and gave the prime minister the Palestinian proposal.

According to Palestinian sources, Mitchell did not dismiss Abbas’ proposal. Abbas is demanding a clear framework for the direct talks and an Israeli commitment to cease construction activity in the settlement during the negotiations.

The Quartet – the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia – issued the statement after a meeting in Moscow on March 19. It calls for 24 months of talks between Israel and the PA that would result in an agreement on the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The statement said that the founding of the Palestinian state would end the occupation that began in 1967. It also called on Israel to institute a total freeze of construction in West Bank settlements and to refrain from home demolitions in East Jerusalem. The declaration even went so far as to mention that the international community does not recognize Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem.

Senior officials in Jerusalem who are involved in the efforts to renew direct peace talks said yesterday that Abbas’ latest formula was unacceptable to Netanyahu because it sought to impose preconditions that the Israeli public would oppose.

Read full article on Netanyahu Rejecting Peace Talks.

© COPYRIGHT HAARTEZ, 2010

OB RAG– They assembled in a downtown park at First and Island Avenue today, Mar. 22nd at roughly 2pm. As they waited for the word to move out to the “die-in” site, most had their white T-shirts stenciled with the number “15703″ representing the number of both American and Iraqi deaths divided by the estimated number of people involved in the protest. Finally, the word came and they moved in small groups and pairs several blocks north to be right in front of NBC’s downtown office on Broadway and 3rd Street.

Once they reached Broadway, they laid down on the cement – just a half dozen at first. But by time all had reached the site, the total was 92.

They were very peaceful in their silent protest. Mostly young people, they came from colleges and high schools in the area – with the average age of the protester about 22. Another 10 supporters hung around the edges, taking photos, drawing chalk outlines of the “dead.”

They laid there for at least a half hour, as tourists walked by and watched, intrigued with the scene. Several San Diego Police officers stood across the street observing. Security personnel of the building were not happy, but the cops were nonchalant when they complained.

Organized by local groups 911 Truth and Scene Diego, this demonstration culminated a week of antiwar protests commemorating the 5th anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq by US forces.

From Friday, the 14th up to today, San Diego witnessed four different antiwar demonstrations within the City. It was either a sign of strength of the peace movement or a sign of weakness, but each protest event was held by different groups and people. Last Friday – Veterans for Peace did their thing, protesting the pro-war group which was kicking off an event aboard the Midway. Then Saturday, the 15th, there was of course the largest event – the march and rally in City Heights, sponsored by San Diego’s Coalition for Peace and Justice – which included the Vets naturally. Next was MoveOn’s candle-light vigil held in Balboa Park Wednesday night, the 19th, and then there was today’s protest, by far the most youthful.

The Vets were at the large rally but the main peace groups were not at the Vets’ thing. MoveOn had their 250 gray-hairs rally which the main peace coalition did not attend. And the youth held their offense this afternoon. Some of the youth at today’s event were at the large rally, but again, the main peace group folks did not show up for today’s die-in. (Apparently, Patty & I were the only ones who attended all four – well, we are journalist bloggers.)

Someday, perhaps the day when the number of American deaths reaches 4,000, we will all come together – again.

http://dieinsd.com/

KPFA- Mayor Gavin Newsom and other city leaders joined with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition this afternoon to celebrate the painting of the city’s first new bike lane since the Bike Plan Injunction 4 years ago. The Injunction, lifted by the Superior Court on Friday, was the result of a lawsuit contesting the environmental review of the city’s Bike Plan adopted in 2005. Now, given the green light, the Municipal Transportation Agency is ready to stripe a record 35 bike lanes, making San Francisco one of America’s most bicycle friendly cities. Alicia Roldán files this report:

(Sound of Mayor Gavin Newsom painting the first bike lane in four years)

Mayor Newsom removed his pinstripe jacket as he joined other city leaders in pushing a paint roller over Townsend Street, striping the first of many bike lanes to be laid over the next year.

The lane laid this afternoon creates a link from the Eighth Street Station to the Embarcadero, an important connection for commuters to the Caltrain station. The Mayor said there is a full time commitment and energetic effort to complete this project that is already planned and funded.

Other lanes will be laid on key streets such as North Point St., Laguna Honda, 17th Street, Portola Dr., and Ocean Avenue.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said that by doubling the number of bike lanes citywide San Francisco will keep vehicle counts down.

“Each year we are seeing an exponential increase of San Franciscans, of commuters, who want to use their bikes in this city. And that’s exactly why it is time that we design our roads to share for bikes, for pedestrians, and people who seek other modalities, other than just the private automobile.”

Bicycle ridership has increase more than 50% since 2006, despite a lack of bicycle network improvements. With the Bicycle Plan underway ridership is expected to surge. Official City counts show bicycling on average doubles after a bike lane is added.

Ian Williamson, a volunteer for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition said the most important thing bicycle lanes do enhance the safety of cyclists.

“Just making drivers aware that cyclists have a rightful place on the road is an extremely important first step both to decrease accidents and to encourage more cyclists to get on their bikes.”

Mayor Newsom said that with mass urbanization San Francisco is competing with world class cities and that people are looking for a high quality of life. He says that a bicycle networks along side parks create this.

“Quality of life comes from a sense of place, a sense of identity, a sense of community. And community comes from not by having 25% of your land mass, which is San Francisco, just being hard surface streets but by creating a sense of place that invites people to connect and cohabitate which means softening those edges.”

When asked about the Environmental Review, Andy Thornly, program director of the SF Bicycle Coalition, said that suspension of the Bicycle Plan had been a question of process.

“One citizen was able to take a loop hole, essentially, and stop the City, based on process. The question of whether or not bikes or bicycle transportation is good for the environment has never been questioned. I think everyone gets that and we’re very confident in that.”

Supervisor Mirkarimi joined the Mayor in San Francisco’s pledge to top Portland’s ranking as the most bicycle friendly city.

“San Francisco aims to be and is serious about being very bike friendly. This is a challenge to the rest of the United States. This is an urban pledge and one that we will see no retreat to.”

Report by alicia, for Pacifica Radio, KPFA, San Francisco

Published: August 9, 2010